The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-02
A FATAL MISTAKE.

III that pastIme for nearly an hour when
one OF the strangers, who was an artist,
threw away ms cigar and related the fuI-
loving adventure:
Such an evening as this alwavs recalls
10 my mind an experience which | had
when | was q student in the city OF
Ba tImOre. One OF the fellows of our set
owned Yacht and in consequence we
all cultivated his acquaintance. One day
he told US that he WAS expecting 10
entertain party OF young ladies' that
evening, and that he wished 10 RELY upon
Us for assistance. OF course we were all
delighted 10 90 sailing in such merry
company, and that night dozen happy
young people went gliding up the bay in
rs staunch a yacht as ever divided the
waters OF the Chesapeake. We had
sailed about ten miles, and were quite
near the shore, when it was suggested
that We should land before making tack
Tor our return
As we approached the land we saw
light giImmeT through the foliage The
ground was lai out with regular rows OF
trees that stood Ike tall sentinels in the
bright moonlight. Broad gravel walks
lei from the beach, and the lawn was in
trrsected with carriage drives. Upon
the hillside a couple OF fountains reflect
ell the mOOlbeams upon the surround
ing eyerEreeus, and upon every side were
flower beds, whose bright blossoms drank
IL the sparkling dewdrops and ditfused
rich co!9rIng over the landscape. The
natural beauty OF the park was enriched
by every device of art and landscape
gardening. Appearances Indicated that
We were trcspaSSlng upon the private
grounds OF = very large rural residence.
but one who pretended 10 be- acquainted
with the neigh5OrhOOd, said that the
grounds were public and that the light
proceeded from hotel which was a sort
OF summer resort. 1t was At once
proposed that We have refreshments. and
OF we started IN the direction Of the
light. The young lady whom | escorted
took my arm, and We led the party
towards the emincucc. There was a
little rivalry 70 see who should get there
first and on that account We did not
notice the deserted appearance OF the
place, nor realize the scrIpe that We were
getting into.
We hurried through the grounds and
approached a grand old mansion, which
was surrounded by a broad verandl The
background OF the yeranda was broken
oE the shadows OF the supporting columns
.utrrllnEed with the moving and ghost
ike shadows OF the surrounding trees.
which were SwSyCd TO aud fro in the
moonlight by the night wind. We were
E1FI pressed by the young people behind
u, AMI finished the rlCn with a run up
the steps. gave the door bell violent
Jerk, aud is echoiug sound aw7ke m. 70
a sense OF my stupidity. 1t was no hotel
but private house Behind me ! heard
tn laughter o; tn. young folks Within
the house / heard a door Open. and
through q 1--U-y curtain | saw the light
stream from lighted apartment into the
-arS hall. = Eurcs bearing lamp came
towards the door. 1 ie.t the hand OF ny
companion trgmblc Gs she graspe ] my
arm, Tor - the last moment She realized
what pTedIc1ucnt we were in. The
door opened, and = man wearing i dress
ing-yOwn AMI IN his stocking feet stood
before me-. / felt that we were in lor It,
AMI IN = spirit OF bravadO blurtel out
ta25 we were yachting party looking
tor rclres. meuts. tiy ngucha!anse
seemed 10 please him, for welcoming
Em.Ir CveTspread his couutenauce, aud IN
Iu. voice, with a German accent, he
babe Us enter. We entered g. reception
room, which was richly furnished and
abound ri IN books, bric-a-brac, antique
ornaments. and bizarre relics. An ar OF
disorder perv1ded the place. A little
black dog skipped round the heels OF our
German host. and barked a welcome.
II am glad TO see YOU" said our Ger
man friend, hut you must excuse Gp-
peaTalc-s. II IS 4 long time since this
room has heard any human voice except !
when | talked TO my dog. Amusc your |
serves for few moments, and will So |
Il can not ind something wAerewIlh TO |
re r-sL vOu.
We seated ourselves about tho room,
but scarcely a word WAS uttered. We |
wCrc ali aw"d by the subdued, weird |
mystery of the surroundings; but we /
su tdculy reTaIned our spirits when The /
German appeared with basket OF fruit |
a dish Of c1Als, and pitcher OF rich, |
fresh milk. The eatab.es soon disao- |
pcLrcd, and one OF the ladies' sat down at
the piano and played a dreamy fantasia.
Then the German brought ont a violin,
and soon We were all keeping time To the
lively music. Our host proposed dance.
The furniture was removed from the ad-
lAcCnt dInIDE-r0On, and in 4 few minutes
" e were tre-dlng the giddy Ilaz-s OF the
walt.
"WeIl," =" said my partner, when w had
5tOppcl to take breath, tins beats all
the fantastic adventures / ever heard of.
suppose you examine this old German
AMI md out what sort OF = place it IS.
Acting on this sugges ion, l opened
as soon as there was lul
IN the festivities. He met me half way
IN nay advances, and when | inquired
about the house ne offered TO show Us
2oout. Il was an imposing old mansion,
the furniture and decorations
belonged 10 the fashions OF the preceding |
decade. On every hand we're ssgus OF
neglect and decay. What chiefly in
crested me, however, was the sight Of
nrec portraits hanging upon the walls
II the library, and my interest WIS great
V increased when 1 heard the slrInge,
td story which our guide related. The
pictures were thoss of i middle aged lady
mi gentleman, and of n beautiful little
pr! about six years OF age. They were
nj paintings, and indicated the touch Of
masters hand. The gentleman had
O..aerly bearing, aud his face showed I
Ourage and resolution. The firm set
lw AMI the lines abOIt the mouth inli-
dted strength OF character; yet there
vas the pleasant animated expression
{ a kind and gentle disposition. The
yes and hair were dark, and / readily
understood our guide when he elaborated
pom the Jet biackEess OF the originals.
lie vas evidently man who could com
Isni the admiration Of man and the
've Ci woman. The face o.. the woman
as even more attractive N interesting.
vas that Of q syIPh-lille blonde, Nu,. =
llien tresses, dancing blue eyes, AMI
III red lips spUkled With enticlng beau
r. ! believed the German when he
I'd the dlrE-haIred man loved her as
OM-n had never been loved before.
As our host led US through the de-
Ttrd rooms he told Us the sad incident
.at had wrecked the home. The man
hose portrait we had admired was the
vuar Of the mansion, and was = member
CIa ot the oldest and proudcst families
Maryland. The woman was his wIie.
gi iu her girlhJol was 4 leading bells
Philadelphia The little girl was their
l.y child Five wears before they were